Is the Works Bomb Illegal?

Why is the works bomb illegal? In the most simplest form, when making the Works bomb, one would usually use the toilet bowl cleaner called The Works. Since one of the intended uses of The Works is not listed as “making the Works bomb,” one would be using the product in a way that is inconsistent with its labeling, therefore one would be breaking the law.

A second reason why the Works bomb is illegal is that it is technically a bomb, hence the name “the Works bomb.” In its most elemental form, a bomb is any reaction that causes a change of pressure and is exothermic (releases heat). As we all know, making a bomb is illegal because it is illegal to possess a bomb. Therefore, even if one forgoes buying The Works and just uses HCl, one would still be breaking the law because a bomb would be produced.

Is there a legal way to do the works bomb? Yes. First off, you could contact your local governing body and find out if there’s a way to get a permit. I know it seems like overkill, but it’s better to be safe than sorry and a small permit fee is much better than paying legal fees and bail. Also, it may be legal to perform the experiment in a non-pressurized container. Of course, you would have to use HCl, not The Works, and you would also have to check your local laws regarding the possession of HCl and other lab equipment.

I’ve heard of many people getting fined and even imprisoned for making The Works Bomb. Unless you’re 100% sure that it’s legal to do in your area, I wouldn’t take any chances.

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Marc

41 Comments

God's forsakenSeptember 5, 2010

Of course it’s illegal, but to put it all into perspective you are over dramatizing the whole “illegal” aspect of the matter. The Works bombs are made for one of several reasons; amusement, at which point if the stupid High Schooler who heard about it from their junkie classmate is too inept to realize they need to do this in a remote location or run after the explosion so they don’t get nabbed by the police, or anarchist chaos, at which point the person lobbing the bombs would probably already know not to get nabbed by the police.

cheyneSeptember 25, 2010

no this works bomb is not illegal my mother tried to pull that on me, so i called the local non-emergency sheriffs office and told them what the situation was. i also told them the ingredients that were used to make it and they said as long as it was not being used as a device to harm anyone or property and did not contain any illegal substances such as cocaine or any other controlled substances then it is 100% legal all though i dont suggest making it it pis*es alot of people off

Wrong in its entirety. It is totally legal to use any product in a way that is inconsistent with its labeling. It may not be recommended, but illegal it is not. Also, calling it a bomb doesn’t make it so. Pressure change and an exothermic reaction doesn’t equal a bomb.

MarcOctober 26, 2010

Good points, however I must also point out that according to the U.S. Department of Defense a bomb is “any of a range of explosive devices that only rely on an exothermic reaction to cause a rapid release of energy…”
As for using a product inconsistent with its labeling; you may be correct that where you buy the product it is in fact not against the law to use it in a way that is inconsistent with its labeling, however where I buy the Works it clearly states “It is a violation of federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.”
Thanks for reading and for the points you presented!

Officer SherwinNovember 3, 2010

In most states (including PA) the activation of this homemade device falls under the Arson and related offenses because it DOES met the legal definition of an explosive. You’re mom was right!
Check PA law 3301for Arson and Related Offenses, 3304 for Criminal Mischief, and of course there is always 5503 Disorderly Conduct.

This is a load of horseshit, The Works bomb isnt a bomb, its a chemical reaction.
“since one of the intended uses of The Works is not listed as “making the Works bomb,” one would be using the product in a way that is inconsistent with its labeling, therefore one would be breaking the law.”
Thats also a load of shit, that would be like buying Coke or Pepsi for the purpose of using it as a football and getting arrested not drinking it because using it as a football is not its intended use.
get your legal facts straight

MarcApril 10, 2011

Thanks for your comments! I agree that it is a reaction, however local authorities don’t see it just as a reaction, plus the addition of building pressure and exploding a container technically make it classified as a bomb. Not to mention the Works bottle specifically states that using the product in a manner other than described is illegal. I don’t think you would be able to find a warning on a coke bottle stating that using the product other than for human consumption is illegal.

A lot of people have been fined and arrested for the creating the Works bomb, weather or not their intentions were harmless.

The Works BombMay 30, 2011

This is illegal. Regardless of if you think it is stupid of authorities to press charges for something as minor as this, they still will. I just finished an 8 month long ordeal in the courts trying to clear up FELONY charges against me for making these bombs. Two of these bombs caused more trouble for me than I ever thought possible. They are classified as an “incendiary device” in Colorado (Class 4 Felony). Unless your going to make one out in the middle of a field miles from anyone i would not recommend ever making one of these things. The police will find you. I was one of those people who laughed at the idea of ever being caught because you have to be stupid to get caught but it will happen.

AnonymousJune 4, 2011

This is definitely correct. Any one who says that this is untruthful and that they checked with their friend, parent, etc. is either lying, or their source is misinformed. Some friends and I looked this up under the name “works cracker” or something. We went to an empty parking lot and did one from a distance at night, it did as we thought, made a loud noise. Upon making a second, a police officer showed up simply because he saw a car with lights on. One went off inside the car and could have injured everybody in it. This is considered to be a criminal offense. We were lucky to get off with simply a village ordinance fine instead of the jail time that we could have faced. If you know somebody that wants to try this, or you find yourself doing it, STOP.

johnJune 27, 2011

if you change the container that the works comes in then you can bypass the label laws because ur not violateing a label law if there is no label and its not illeagl to remove a label off of a container.

MAD ChemistSeptember 14, 2011

Here is the truth:

It is a bomb, just not a good one.

If your caught then the min fines you will be getting is for disturbing the peace.

If you do this in an enclosed space and the H gas ignites then you will probably lose a limb.

As for using the product illegally, do you really want to get sued by the manufacture if their product gets negative publicity.

Something AwfulSeptember 17, 2011

Well guys you should try something new

use some car oil then put some brake fluid into it

make sure you do not get flamed up by the boom…

Crub90706October 23, 2011

If useing a product in a way inconsistent with its labeling was illegal, then anyone who has used vinger and baking soda in simple grade school experiments would be breaking the law.

ThomasNovember 1, 2011

“It is a violation of federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with it’s labeling”
I’d say that’s pretty clear.. And I had a hard time finding that warning anywhere on my coke bottle…..

WorksVictimMarch 17, 2012

This is illegal. I am 16 and being charge for possession of explosive material which is a misdemeanor in Tennessee. I did it twice with my friends and I regret it. Do not do it. I do not think it should be illegal but it has gotten me and plenty of other people in loads of trouble.

lolApril 15, 2012

haha I got arrested for making one of these, if you want to make one just don’t be stupid and blow them up in school, jail is a boring place to hang out. if you do ever get arrested just remember the right to remain silent actually means you be silent and don’t say anything to the detective — ask for a lawyer.

My son got arrested for making the bomb. The charge was reckless conduct; which means he potentially put someone else in danger. His sister was inside the house, and he was on the porch, but they are still trying to say he potentially endangered her. So according to our local police, if he was alone, it would be fine. We’re still waiting for the trial, but if he’s found guilty, he’ll probably have to serve a month.

John flynnMay 26, 2012

You need to chill out man it’s not a big deal

evanJune 19, 2012

im in trouble jut uz i recorded the pop. so what i wanna no is that the people that put coke n mentos togather than throw it causing it to become a pojectile is that makeing a misile? i hope i dont get in troule all i did was record it i dint even make it

Sara TurpinJune 23, 2012

Lol. A girl that’s mad cause I’m not her friend threw 2 of these in my yard at 3a.m. then denied it was her when she’s the only one who makes when where I live. So around 10p.m. her & her immature friends set one on my pourch & knocked on my door. My parents called the police & she lives down the street from me & she’s already on probation, obviously she’s dumb.

Sara TurpinJune 23, 2012

Oh & this is considered a class 4 felony btw(;

CMarch 5, 2013

In the state of Ohio, they don’t take these things lightly at all.
My friend and I decided to make one of these things, he had done them before, and even got caught by the cops once. But nothing happened when he was caught, they simply told him to never do it again. (That was a year or so before I did it with him) So anyways, my only involvement with the “bomb” was I took the foil and rolled it into balls for my friend. I did no more except watch. We set the bomb off on a cement sewer top away from any life, property, or cars, etc. I recorded it and everything.

Guess a man saw us… He called the cops. My friend and I were 15 at the time. We were both sent to 2 nights and 3 days in Juvenile Detention, and were then both released on house arrest for months. The state wanted to charge us with a “Felony 2 – Possession of a dangerous ordnance”. Luckily I had all charges dropped and went on probation and had to take a diversion program.

Don’t do these things without permission. It’s ridiculous.

kklassyMarch 25, 2013

Completely illegal in oregon ~ a bunch of HS boys (my son) decided to make some of these and watch them pop! Then decided to put one on the chemistry teachers sidewalk which were then caught and now all 11 are fighting felony charges and lawyer fees! Not to mention it is their Senior year and some of them are waiting college scholarships – acceptance that they may not get after all . . . big bummer, big mistake. /so sad. Youtube should not be allowed to put such “tutorials” on their site!

codyApril 6, 2013

I’m 16 and set works bombs off all the time with my friends at the river in town. The cops showed up once and just laughed about it and told us to go home..

Austin JamesOctober 27, 2013

Don’t do it. The prank or whatever reason it is you want to make one, isn’t worth it. I’m 18, just graduated high school, and am now facing FELONY charges of “manufacturing a destructive device”. I’m told it is 10-25 years in the State of Georgia as there is no difference in this and building a pipe bomb, pressure cooker bomb, etc. If i’m charged with the felony – my plans to join the military are gone along with a lot of other opportunities. I’ve just made my life much more difficult. No one was hurt and no damage was done – our intent was only a prank, nothing else.

Just don’t do it. This has cost me lawyer fees, stress, and embarrassment. I report to turn myself in tomorrow and hopefully will have a preset bond so that I can immediately bond out. If not, I’m in county jail until the bond hearing.

Trey SeymourJanuary 12, 2014

Don’t even try to make it…i will admit i am 15 years old and my friend 14 and today the police are deciding are punishments from a warning to juvinal detention….but what i want is some help because i had no clue it was illegal only that it would anger people.

Austin SindtFebruary 12, 2014

Yes, it is illegal. Was with friends and we did a couple in a couple different areas of town and got caught and now I have court and a jail/prison sentence and/or a hefty fine hanging over my head.. So don’t try it in town if you don’t wanna get caught

A few friends and I just did it the other day. Cops showed up and we got brought to the police department. Im in North Carolina and this is apparently a felony and am still awaiting to see what will happen to us. They might drop the charges or could make a case out of it. I had no idea this was illegal. Dont even think about doing it, so not worth it. I regret it completely.

The works bomb is not illegal, because it contains no chemicals that harm you, or are dangerous. All it involves is tinfoil, and “the works” bathroom detergent. The only way this bomb can harm you is if the reaction gets in your eyes. This is why you want to do it where their is usually no people, like the woods, or a abandoned park. The chemical that is made can blind you if not used properly. Have fun, and for the people that say its illegal, your wrong, the only way that you can get fined, is if you do it in a neighborhood where it might scare the residents of that area

Karl StarkeyAugust 8, 2014

Ok – for all you teenage brainiacs. Blindness? Burning your skin on contact? Please don’t go running home to your parents to solve your next set of problems that arise from your idiocy.
One boy makes a boy, 2 boys makes 1/2 a boy & get 3 boys together and you have no boy at all. Just collective testosterone running around making hormonoly charged decisions. This is a recipe for disaster.
Ugh!

Jay BeeSeptember 20, 2014

Mentos + Diet Coke = Chemical Reaction that produces over pressure , if you are super fast and able to contain the over pressure in the bottle and then it explodes, is that makes it a bomb? (Comment from a landmines and explosive SME trained by the U.S. Army)

"terrorist"June 9, 2015

In VA making a works bomb is considered a class 5 felony. I was charged in 2010. When one failed to detonate in a mailbox. I was charged after my finger prints were found on the bottle. I got a plea deal to amend the charge for Destruction of property (misdemeanor) Yet now I can never hold ANY Federal position that requires a Secret or Top secret Security clearance. Because i Was charged with felony creating explosive device. You have to ask yourself. Is it worth ruining your life to make one of these things?

JonSeptember 29, 2016

Completely honest here; I was charged with felony implementating an explosive or incendiary device in Minnesota in 2011 for making a works bomb in the driveway of my home.

Jason D.WilliamsJanuary 5, 2018

Yes this is very illegal. Facsimile bomb is what I was,charged with. 1999 San Diego an it didn’t go off. 16months 2years,3years is the sentencing guidelines. 4years 8month total in a level 3 California prison age 21. If sombody tells u this is legal smack um in the mouth.